How Often Should You Pump?
We've got all your pumping questions answered، including how often to pump، and what to do if you can't find time.
Parents who pump their milk often have questions—usually quite a lot of questions. One of the most common ones is: How often should I pump? Breastfeeding and chestfeeding parents might want to know if they need to pump on the same schedule that their babies nurse، and they may want to know how often to pump if their baby doesn’t nurse directly at all.
But the questions don’t stop there. Parents may also wonder when to start pumping، and whether this varies based on their circumstances and the type of separation they’ll be experiencing with their little one. You can rest assured that having a long list of questions about pumping frequency and other related topics is totally normal. Thankfully، all of these questions have answers—and we connected with some lactation specialists to get you the most up-to-date evidence-based info possible.
When to Start Pumping Your Breast Milk
For parents who choose to breastfeed or chestfeed، pumping will likely be part of the picture as well—either here or there، or on a regular basis. Of course، some parents will decide to exclusively pump and bottle-feed their baby. No matter what you choose، some reasons you may be considering pumping your milk could include:1
- Having a medically vulnerable or premature baby who isn’t able to latch
- Having a baby who is having trouble latching or refusing the breast
- Deciding that exclusive pumping is right for you
- Brief، infrequent separations from your baby، such as “date night” or other one-time events
- Ongoing، frequent separations from a baby، such as for work or school
In a nutshell، when to pump your milk will depend on your reason for pumping، says Nicole Peluso، IBCLC، lactation consultant and manager of lactation services and education at Aeroflow Breastpumps.
